Automatic bottle decapper



Nov. 24, 1959 N. D. BENSON 2,913,937

AUTOMATIC BOTTLE DECAPPER Filed Oct. 1. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1959 N. D. BENSON AUTOMATIC BOTTLE DECAPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1958 INVENTOR l afimyfl Bzmsay BY 2 4M ATTORNEYS United States atent nice AUTOMATIC BOTTLE DECAPPER Norman D. Benson, Dearborn, Mich.

Application October 1, 1958, Serial No. 764,582

4 Claims. (Cl. 813.2)

The present invention relates to automatic bottle decappers of the electrically operated type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a bottle decapper which automatically engages and removes a bottle cap when the bottle is placed in position for having the cap removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle decapping device of the type described above which is spring returned to complete the decapping cycle in preparation for the next decapping cycle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottie decapping device of the class described above which is inexpensive-to manufacture, simple to use and which is completely effective in removing bottle caps.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention with the cover removed;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a bottle about to be inserted in the decapper;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating the decapper in the process of removing the cap; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the bottle being moved away from the decapper following the decapping operation.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally a decapping device constructed in accordance with the invention.

The decapping device 10 includes a generally rectangular base plate 11 having an upright support plate 12 secured thereto adjacent one end thereof. The support plate 12 has an angularly offset outwardly extending upper end portion 13 integrally formed on its upper end. A generally rectangular post 14 is secured to the base 11 and extends upwardly therefrom parallel to the support plate 12. The post 14 has a bifurcated upper end 15, as can be seen in Figure 1. A support bracket 16 is secured to the base plate 11 at the end thereof opposite the support plate 12. A lever, generally indicated at 17, is positioned in the bifurcated end of the post 14 and pivotally secured therein by a pivot pin 18. The lever 17 has an elongated portion 19 extending from the pivot 18 and an angularly offset portion extending generally oppositely from the pivot 18. The elongated portion 19 and the angularly offset portion 20 are formed integrally and the angularly offset portion 20 has a bifurcated end 21 formed thereon.

An electro-magnetic coil 22 is supported on the bracket 16 and is provided with a vertically reciprocating armature 23 projecting from the upper end thereof and carrying a head 24 on its upper end. A pair of links 25 are arranged in spaced parallel relation and have their lower ends pivotally secured to the head 24 by means of a pivot pin 26 and have their upper ends pivotally secured to the elongated portion 19 of the lever 17 by means of a pivot pin 27.

A hook arm 28 has an end 29 thereof secured in the bifurcated end 21 of the offset portion 20 of the lever 17 by means of a pivot pin 30. A stop pin 31 extends transversely of the bifurcated end 21 to provide a rest for the hook arm 28 to limit the movement of the hook arm 28 toward the post 14. A spring 32 is coiled about the pivot pin 30, having an end 33 thereof engaging the offset end portion 20 and the opposite end 34 engaging the hook arm 28 normally biasing the hook arm 28 toward the post 14.

As can be best seen in Figures 3 through 5, the hook arm 28 has a hook 35 formed on its lower end for engaging a cap 36 of a bottle 37 A generally tubular bottle guide 38 is provided with a flared mouth 39 to guide the bottle 37 into position for engagement by the hook 35 with the cap 36. The tubular bottle guide 38 has a slot 40 formed therein to permit the hook arm 28 to move therethrough. The bottle guide 38 is mounted on the upper end portion 13 of the support plate 12 and extends downwardly and outwardly therefrom. A bar 41 extends across the inner end of the guide 38 to provide a stop for the bottle 37 as it is inserted into the guide 38. A pin 42 is slidably positioned in the bar 41 for engagement by the bottle cap 36 and has a head 43 on the opposite end. A micro-switch 44 is supported on a plate 45 extending between the support plate 12 and the post 14 and is provided with a switch arm 46 which is engaged by the head 43 when the pin 42 is pushed inwardly by the cap 36.

A coil spring 47 extends between the pivot 30 and the post 14 to normally bias the hook arm 28 inwardly of the guide 38 to return the hook arm 28 to its starting position after a cap 36 has been removed from the bottle 37.

Wiring 48 connects the electro-magnetic coil 22 with a source of electricity (not shown) through the switch 44.

In the operation of the device, the bottle 37 is pushed into the guide 38 so that the cap 36 engages the pin 42 closing the switch 44 by engagement with the switch arm 46. The cap 36 engages the hook 35 and cams the hook 35 out of the way of the cap 36 as the bottle 37 is inserted into the guide 38. The spring 32 biases the hook arm 28 toward the bottle 37 so that the hook 35 thereof engages under the cap 36 for removal as the hook arm 28 is moved away from the guide 38 by action of the lever 17 and the movement of the armature 23 in the electro-magnetic coil 22.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A bottle decapping device comprising a base, a post supported on said base and extending in generally upright relation therefrom, a support plate secured to said base and extending upwardly in parallel relation to said post, a lever pivotally supported on the upper end of said post, an electro-magnetic coil mounted on said base, circuit means for electrically connecting said coil to a source of electricity, an armature vertically slidably mounted in said electro-rnagnetic coil, means connecting said armature to one end of said lever for pivoting said lever on said post on vertical sliding movement of said armature, a generally tubular bottle guide mounted on said support plate, a hook arm pivotally mounted on said lever and having one end thereof positioned in said bottle guide, and resilient means normally urging said lever in a direction to move said armature away from said coil to a position with said hook arm engaging a bottle cap on a bottle in said guide.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein resilient means are provided for biasing said hook arm transversely a pin slidably mounted in said bottle stop and a switch with respect to said bottle guide toward a bottle supported engaged by said pin on movement of said pin inwardly on in said bottle guide. said guide by contact with a bottle inserted in said guide.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided in said bottle guide for engagement by said; 5 References Cited in the file of this patent bottle to complete the circuit in said circuit means and UNITED STATES PATENTS energize said electro-magnetic coil.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bottle 2,554,898 Clark --.---7-:-'-' May 1951 guide is provided with a bottle stop at the inner end there- 2,512,065 Packer et SCPt- 1952 of and the means for completing the circuit in said circuit 10 2,709,936 Brennan June 7, 1955 means and energizing said electro-magnetic coil includes 

